Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers: Series II/Volume II/Sozomen/Book IX/Chapter 12
Chapter XII.—Theodosiolus and Lagodius. The Races of the Vandals and Suevi. Death of Alaric. Flight of the Tyrants Constantine and Constans.
The troops of Constans were shortly afterwards strengthened by reinforcements, and Didymus and Verinian, with their wives, were taken prisoners, and were eventually put to death.[1]
Their brothers, Theodosiolus and Lagodius, who were living in other
provinces, fled the country; the former escaped to Italy, to the
Emperor Honorius; the latter fled to the East, to Theodosius. After
these transactions, Constans returned to his father, after he had
posted a guard of his own soldiers for the road to Spain; for he did
not permit the Spaniards to act as guard, according to the ancient
custom, a privilege for which they had petitioned. This precaution was
probably afterwards the cause of the ruin of the country; for when
Constantine was deprived of his power, the barbarous races of the
Vandals, Suevi, and Alani took confidence and conquered the road, and
took possession of many forts and cities in Spain and Gaul, and
arrested the officers of the tyrant.
In the meantime, Constantine, who still thought that matters would go according to his purpose, caused his son to be proclaimed emperor instead of Cæsar, and determined to possess himself of Italy. With this view, he crossed the Cottian Alps, and entered Liverona, a city of Liguria. He was on the point of crossing the Po, when he was compelled to retrace his steps, upon being informed of the death of Alavicus. This Alavicus was the commander of the troops of Honorius, and being suspected of conspiring to place the entire Western government under the domination of Constantine, he was slain when returning from a procession, in which, according to custom, it was his office to march in advance of the emperor. Immediately after this occurrence, the emperor descended from horseback, and publicly returned thanks to God for having delivered him from one who had openly conspired against him. Constantine fled and seized Arles, and Constans, his son, hastened from Spain, and sought refuge in the same city.
On the decline of the power of Constantine, the Vandals, Suevi, and Alani eagerly took the Pyrenees when they heard that it was a prosperous and most abundant region. And since those who had been entrusted by Constans with the guard of the passage had neglected their duty, the invaders passed by into Spain.
Footnotes
edit- ↑ Independent chapter. Olymp. Fragm. 10, 15, 29, 30; Zos. vi. 4; Oros. vii. 40–42.